Implant for inhibiting mastitis in dairy cattle

ABSTRACT

A method and instrument for placing an implant in the teat duct and udder of an animal, as a milk cow. The instrument has an elongated tubular member having a passage accommodating the implant. The tubular member is adapted to be inserted into the milk duct through the discharge end thereof. A head having finger gripping ears is attached to the tubular member. The implant is moved from the passage with a piston connected to a rod extended through the head. A hand engaging member secured to the rod is used in cooperation with the ears to apply force to the rod to move the piston in the passage to move the implant into the teat duct and udder. The implant has a core of an elongated flexible plastic string. A plurality of bands are clamped about the core. Alternate bands are coated with a first metal, as silver. The remaining bands are coated with a second metal, as gold. All of the bands may be coated with the same metal, such as silver. The implant includes a capsule implant containing material that reacts with the silver to produce silver ions which have advantageous antibacterial effects.

This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 062,707,filed Aug. 1, 1979, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,859.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention relates to an instrument and method for placing an implantinto the teat duct and udder of an animal, as a milk cow. The instrumentis a hand-operated dispenser which places the implant in the teat ductand dispenses the implant into the teat duct and udder. The instrumenthas an elongated cylindrical tubular member having a passage foraccommodating the implant. A head is attached to a rear portion of thetubular member. Finger grips secured to the head are used to facilitatethe insertion of the tubular member into the milk duct and thedispensing of the implant into the milk duct and udder. A movable pistonis located in the passage. A piston rod secured to the piston is used tomove the piston in the passage and thereby force the implant from thepassage. A curved member attached to the piston rod functions toaccommodate the thumb so that the instrument is hand-operated with twofingers and the thumb.

The implant has an elongated flexible plastic core carrying a pluralityof metal bands. Each band has a metal coating which releases metal ionsin response to an electrical power providing effective micro-organismcontrol, including bacterial action and germicidal action. The metal ispreferably silver. Other metals, as gold, aluminum, copper, zinc, andcompounds as silver-zinc-allantoinate, and silver sulfadiazine and likemetals, and metal alloys which liberate metal ions, can be used. Thealternate segments of the core can have dissimilar metals which producea galvonic action which causes release of metal ions. The implant can bea capsule implant which, when dispensed into the udder, will dissolve inthe udder and release a chemical or one or more materials. The chemicalcan be a sulfur compound which reacts with silver to enhance theliberation of silver ions.

The dispensing instrument is packaged in an envelope. The envelopecomprises two sheet members that are adhesively sealed together tomaintain the dispenser and implant located in the dispenser in a sterilecondition. The envelope sheet members are separated to expose theinstrument prior to its insertion into the milk duct of a teat. Theintrument is an economical device that can be made of low-cost plasticmaterial. After use, the instrument is disposed of to prevent thecontamination of other teats. The instrument can be used byveterinarians, as well as animal husbandrists, to control and treatmastitis.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the dispensing instrument of theinvention located within a shipping envelope partly broken away to showthe instrument;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the dispensing instrument taken along theline 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the implant;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the instrument inserted into the milkduct of a cow's teat prior to the dispensing of the implant into themilk duct and udder;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the dispensing instrument inthe dispensed position with the implant located in the udder; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the udder and teat with the implantlocated in the udder and the dispensing instrument removed from theteat.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a dispensing instrument of theinvention indicated generally at 10 located within an envelope 11.Envelope 11 has an elongated chamber 12 formed by side-by-side sheetmembers 13 and 14. Sheet members 13 and 14 are flexible plastic sheets.The sides and top of sheet members 13 and 14 are releasably securedtogether with parallel seals 16. Seals 16 are continuous beads ofadhesive material which can be separated from one sheet member to openthe envelope. This is done by pulling the upper ends of sheet members 13and 14 apart. A transverse seal 17, such as a heat seam, secures thebottom end of the envelope thereby hermetically sealing the dispensinginstrument 10 in the envelope. Chamber 12 can accommodate disinfectantsolutions. Envelope 11 is used to store and transport dispensinginstrument 10 in a sterile condition. The envelope 11 can be used as abag to disinfect the teat with a disinfectant before the instrument isinserted into the milk duct of the teat.

Dispensing instrument 10 has an elongated tubular finger, probe ortubular member 18 surrounding an elongated chamber or bore 19. Member 18is a linear or straight cylindrical member or tube having an insidecylindrical wall surrounding chamber 19. Chamber 19 has a uniformdiameter throughout its length. An enlarged head 21 is integral with therear end of member 18. The forward side of head 21 has a convex shapewhich functions as a stop indicating the full in position of member 18.Head 21 has outwardly directed ears 22 and 23 which serve as fingerengaging members to facilitate the installation or insertion of tubularmember 18 into the milk duct of a teat of an animal. The forward end oftubular member 18 has a tip 24 surrounding a discharge opening 26 indirect communication with chamber 19. Tip 24 is part of an inclinedforward end 25. The shape of end 25 minimizes resistance to insertion ofmember 18 into the milk duct of a teat.

A movable plunger or piston 27 is located in chamber 19. Piston 27 isconnected to a linear rod 28 that extends rearwardly from piston 27through a hole 29 in head 21. The outer end of rod 28 is integral with athumb engaging member 30. Member 30 has an arcuate or generally C-shapeto accommodate the thumb of the user and to locate the thumb in generalalignment with rod 28 so that a linear force can be applied to rod 28 tomove piston 27 up into elongated chamber 19.

An implant 31 is located in chamber 19. As shown in FIG. 2, a secondimplant 32 is located above piston 27 and below implant 31. Implant 32is a capsule implant containing antibacterial and virus compounds orsolutions that are to be injected into the udder of a cow to treatmastitis and other infections. The capsule has a cover or sheet ofmaterial that dissolves in the udder. A sulfur compound can be stored inthe capsule. For example, dimethyl sulfoxide can be introduced into theteat duct and udder with capsule implant 32. The material in implant 32,when released in the udder, can be of the type that reacts with implant31 to produce antibacterial and virus agents, compounds or chemicals.Implants 32 can be several capsules. Each capsule can have differentmaterial.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, implant 31 has a core 33 comprising anelongated flexible string of plastic material, such as Selastic. Theplastic material is biologically inert and compatible with body tissueand fluids in the udder. A plurality of metal bands 34 are located aboutcore 33 and clamped onto the core. Preferably, bands 34 are stainlesssteel and have a length about equal to the diameter of the core.Adjacent bands 34 are longitudinally spaced from each other to permitthe flexible core 33 to bend and stretch to conform to the milk duct andcavities in the udder. The space between adjacent bands is about equalto the diameter of core 33. Core 33 has a relatively small diameter,such as 1 to 10 mm. The size of core 33 and length of bands 34 andspacing between adjacent bands 34 can vary.

Alternate bands 34 are coated with a layer of silver 37. The remainingbands 34 are covered with a coating or layer of gold 38. The silver andgold can be vacuum deposited onto the bands by a sputtering process. Asan alternate structure, the spaced silver and gold layers can bedeposited directly onto the elastic core thereby eliminating metal bands34. As another alternative, each band 34 can be coated with a segment ofsilver and a segment of gold. The silver and gold metals are used by wayof an example. Other types of metals can be deposited onto the bands orcore. Metals, as aluminum, copper, and zinc, metal alloys, and materialsas silver-zinc-allantoinate, silver sulfadiazine, and the like, may beused. All of the bands can be coated with silver. The entire implant 31can be a silver or silver alloy wire. The dissimilar metals, whenlocated in the body or udder fluids, cause galvonic action whichproduces an electric current that liberates metal ions. When silver isused, silver ions flow through the body or udder tissue producingbeneficial antiseptic results and bactericidal action and germicidalaction. Other metal ions produce similar results. Implant 32 can containa sulfur compound which reacts with the silver to produce an electriccurrent causing silver ions to form and move with the current.

Referring to FIG. 6, the udder indicated generally at 39 has a teat 41.The other teats of the udder are not shown. A milk duct 44 extendslongitudinally through the teat from a milk collecting cavity or cistern47 at the base of the udder to a discharge opening at the end of theteat. The discharge opening is closed with a sphincter muscle 46.

Envelope 11 is opened by separating sheet members 13 and 14. Thisexposes the forward end 24 of finger 18. Finger 18 is placed up orinserted into milk duct 44 with the tip or forward end 24 locatedadjacent the exit of the cavity 47. The hand fingers engageable withenvelope 11 and head 21 are used to insert the finger 18 into milk duct44. Rod 28 extends downwardly from head 21 locating piston 27 in thebase of passage 19. Implants 31 and 32 have been previously loaded inthe passage 19, as shown in FIG. 2.

The thumb 48 and first and second fingers 51 and 52 are used to dispenseimplants 31 and 32 into the udder cavity 47. As shown in FIG. 6, thumb48 is placed on the C-shaped member 30 at the end of rod 28. The firstand second fingers are placed over the ears 22 and 23. The thumb ismoved toward the head 21 by applying pressure in the direction of thearrow 48. The hand fingers 51 and 52 apply pressure in the direction ofthe arrows 53 to maintain finger 18 in milk duct 44. Thumb 48 forces therod 28 into head 21. The piston 27 moves implants 31 and 32 out ofpassage 19 into udder cavity 47. Near the end of the stroke the piston27 moves implant 32 into the upper end of the milk duct adjacent cavity47. Implant 32 can be moved into cavity 47 by moving finger 18 upwardly.As shown in FIG. 7, rod 28 is moved to head 21 dispensing implants 31and 32 into cavity 47. The dispensing instrument 10 is withdrawn fromteat 41 by pulling on ears 22 and 23. Instrument 10, being a low costitem, is disposed of in a sanitary manner.

FIG. 8 shows the udder 39 and teat 41 with instrument 10 removed. Whenfinger 18 is removed from duct 44, the duct 44 returns to its naturalcondition with an enlarged teat chamber 44A located between the upperportion of the teat and the sphincter muscle 46. Implant 31 is locatedin the udder cavity 47. Implant 32 has dissolved thereby releasing thematerial therein into the udder. The material in implant 32, such assulfur compound, forms a slight acid condition in the udder. The acidreacts with the silver and gold to produce an electrical current. Theelectrical current liberates silver ions. The silver ions disperse,penetrate, and move through the body tissue in the area of the implant31. The electrical current and metal ion movement has an advantageousbactericidal and germicidal action for the prevention and control of amastitis condition in the udder.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of adispensing instrument, udder implants, and method of placing theimplants into a cow's udder, it is understood that changes in thedispensing instrument, udder implants, and method of placing theimplants into a cow's udder may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the invention. The invention is defined in thefollowing claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An implant for insertionthrough the teat milk duct and into the udder of an animal having anudder and teat attached thereto in inhibiting growth of mastitis causingbacteria in the udder and milk duct comprising: a non-electricallyconductive flexible core of a size allowing insertion through the teatmilk duct for placement in the udder of an animal, said core being anelongated continuous flexible plastic string, a plurality of bandssurrounding and attached to the core, adjacent bands being spaced fromeach other and having no electrically mechanical connectiontherebetween, and metal means covering each band, said metal means onsome of the bands including metallic silver for generating silver ionshaving bactericidal action when located in the udder to inhibit growthof mastitis causing bacteria in the udder and milk duct.
 2. The implantof claim 1 wherein: all of the metal means is metallic silver.
 3. Theimplant of claim 1 wherein: the metal means is a first metal of metallicsilver on alternate bands and a second metal on the remaining bands. 4.The implant of claim 3 wherein: the second metal is gold.
 5. The implantof claim 1 wherein: the metal means is a first metal of metallic silveron part of each band and a second metal on another part of each band. 6.The implant of claim 5 wherein: the second metal is gold.
 7. An implantfor insertion through the teat milk duct and into the udder of an animalhaving an udder and a teat attached thereto, said teat having a milkduct to inhibit growth of mastitis causing bacteria in the udder andmilk duct comprising: a non-electrically conductive body of a sizeallowing insertion through the teat milk duct for placement into theudder of an animal, said body being an elongated continuous flexibleplastic string, and metal means covering separate segments of the body,said metal means including metallic silver disposed in spaced relationon said body and having no electrically conductive mechanical connectiontherebetween for providing a silver ion discharge having bactericidalaction in the udder and teat duct to inhibit the growth of mastitiscausing bacteria.
 8. The implant of claim 7 wherein: all of the metalmeans is metallic silver.
 9. The implant of claim 7 wherein: the metalmeans is a first metal of metallic silver and a second metal.
 10. Theimplant of claim 9 wherein: the second metal is gold.